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Review

1996
Subaru
SVX Review

A performance car at a value.

Reviewed by Automotive on
3/21/1996

Overview

The 1996 Subaru SVX is a two-door grand tourer and was introduced in the Japanese market as the Alcyone SVX in 1989 as a concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show. It was well received for its sleek body and innovative roof and window panels. The positive reception of the SVX concept prompted Subaru to create a production car that adhered to the same innovative design. The Alcyone SVX would be introduced in September 1991 in Japan, while the car was launched in America as the Subaru SVX in July of the same year.

The Range

What's New

The 1996 Subaru SVX is available in two sports coupe models: the base model L and the high-end LSi. Both models have a fixed all-wheel drive. The LSi gets additional features like leather upholstery, variable-assist power steering, CD player, a power sunroof, remote entry system, a split folding rear seatback, and an anti-theft alarm.

Exterior

The 1996 Subaru SVX has a sleek exterior, which has remained almost unchanged since it was introduced in 1992. It uses a rather unique glass-to-glass canopy and two-piece power side windows. This sort of design is generally seen only in exotic cars like the Lamborghini Countach and the DeLorean DMC-12. The design allows it to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.29.

Interior

The 1996 Subaru SVX claims to seat four people, but that's only in theory. For all practical purposes, the rear seat should support two occupants but doesn't have enough headroom for an average adult. Legroom is also lacking in the rear seat, especially when the front seats are pushed back.

The 1996 Subaru SVX offers a decent amount of legroom up front, but headroom is a little problematic because of the low roof. The spacious trunk is a surprising; however, the trunk opening is too small and makes loading and unloading cargo difficult.

Performance & Handling

The 1996 Subaru SVX is only available with a 3.3-liter flat-six engine that delivers 230 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. The engine proves to be quite competent in terms of performance. The all-wheel-drive system gives it excellent traction, keeping it firmly rooted to the road despite the tightest turns and wettest surfaces.

The 1996 Subaru SVX has rather firm suspension that adds more stability to the cornering grip. But it's not too firm that it makes the ride harsh; overall, it's quite well balanced on smooth roads.

The 1996 Subaru SVX provides a flat-six engine that proves to be a powerhouse. It offers notable power at all speeds and goes from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. The automatic transmission is quite good but tends to slip occasionally to a higher gear than necessary.